CHRISTMAS WEEK NEWS YOU CAN USE

New York to Lose Two Congressional Seats

The U.S. Census released their numbers and it did not bode well for New York State. Based on slow population growth, the state will lose two Congressional seats. The delegation, which will shrink from 29 to 27, will be the smallest the state has had in almost 200 years.

The state legislature is responsible for redrawing Congressional, State Senate, and State Assembly districts for the 2012 elections. Many pundits believe that they will eliminate Congressional districts in upstate or Long Island.

State Senate Majority Decided

The State’s highest court has ruled against incumbent Long Island State Senator Craig Johnson’s motion for a full recount in his election. This ruling confirms Republican Jack Martin's victory in the 7th Senate District. This victory ensures Senate Republicans a 32-30 majority in the state senate entering the next legislative session.

However, reports out of Albany suggest that this Republican majority may be short lived.  Due to retirements and appointments to the Cuomo adminstration, sources for the Voice Reporter believe we will see a legislative logjam at 31 - 31 or a flip by the end of 2011.

Local Dems and Community Groups Seek Independent Redistricting

The same redistricting issues facing New York’s State Senate regarding congressional district lines will play out on the local level in the coming months. In Monroe County, Democrats, community groups and the Republicans have different ideas regarding just how it should be done.

“There's a power struggle that exists, inherently, in who draws lines,” said Democratic County Legislator Vincent Esposito.

It’s a power struggle which, for years, Monroe County Democrats have been on the short end of. The party in control of the legislature, the Republicans, under county charter, have the upper hand in redrawing legislative district lines.

It happens every ten years. It's about to happen again.

"In essence, it's five inside politicians drawing the lines for themselves,” said Esposito.

Democrats have introduced a bill which they say takes the politics out of redistricting. The plan would expand the legislative redistricting commission from the current five members, to ten. Republicans and Democrats would each pick five. Elected officials and party bosses would be excluded.

“What we want to get to is a process where legislators don't pick whom they're going to represent,” said Democratic Minority Leader Ted O’Brien. “We have people decide who's going to represent them.”

Republicans have held the majority in the legislature for two decades.

“The fact is there has been no problem with redistricting historically in this county,” said Republican Majority Leader Dan Quatro.

Quatro accuses Democrats of trying to politicize the issue, one he thinks wouldn't be their issue at all, if the shoe were on the other foot.

“It doesn't surprise me,” said Quatro. “If the Democrats had won the majority in the last election, certainly they wouldn't be entertaining this.”

There is no guarantee the Democratic plan will even make it to a full legislature vote. It must first go through the legislature's Agenda Charter Committee, which meets January 3.

CSEA wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.  Plus a healthy and happy New Year.